#how sjm who has a degree in literature couldn't come up with that is puzzling to me

[lainalit]

The easiest way SJM could have "fixed" the SA storyline from under the mountain when she decided to make feysand endgame in Acomaf is to

Utilize the fact that Rhysand is fae, so for him the concept of consent is foreign and more unclear

Make Rhysand desentitized in regards to SA because of his own SA by Amarantha for 50 years

Make Amarantha be a reason of why Rhysand panically decides to make feyre his plaything, e.g., Him overhearing a conversation beween Amarantha and a noble fae and said fae wanting to "purchase" feyre for his pleasure with Amarantha contemplating it

After this is established, make feyre's trauma be in response to rhysand's actions in utm; let rhysand feel guilty and make him apologize once he understood what he did was wrong; let their sexual encounters not be a cheap plot device but instead have them both figure out what they want in a partner and how they could work through it together, e.g., them touching each other and verbalizing what they like or don't like; or have a scene where they lay on their sides on the bed and have a mirror in front of them so rhysand doesn't feel controlled by feyre and feyre can always see what's happening via the mirror